subject: Treatment For Hyperthyroidism [print this page] Thyroid disease treatment is a vast and complex science, reflective of the huge importance that the thyroid gland has on our overall health. When the thyroid gland functions as normal, it is responsible for producing the thyroid hormone that the body needs in order to regulate the way energy is used. When something interferes with the basic function of the thyroid gland, the person's health suffers.
One of the most common health conditions associated with the thyroid gland is hypothyroidism. This should not be confused with hypothyroidism, which although also a form of thyroid gland condition, is an entirely different issue. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland's ability to produce thyroid hormone is impaired by the action of the autoimmune system. This causes a drop in the thyroid hormone levels in the body, which in turn causes a number of serious symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms of hypothyroidism are tiredness, fatigue, and lethargy, and this eventually leads to increased cholesterol levels. For such people, heart attack and stroke are potential consequences of the condition.
The circumstances that would require a person to seek treatment for hyperthyroidism are somewhat different. Contrary to hypothyroidism-which is a deficiency in the levels of thyroid hormone in the body-hypothyroidism is a condition in which the levels of thyroid hormone are in excess of what the body actually needs. This situation brings up a number of problems of its own, since excess thyroid hormone isn't necessarily a good thing. Before seeking thyroid disease treatment, people with hypothyroidism will experience symptoms such as elevated heart rates, tremors, nervousness, and sweatiness. Some patients also report a severe drying of the eyes.
There are currently three methods of thyroid disease treatment employed: medication, radioactive therapy, and surgery. The first method involves giving the patient anti-thyroid medication, which is intended to control the levels of thyroid hormone on the body.
Radioactive therapy involves the administration of radioactive iodine, and it is the most commonly prescribed form of hyperthyroid treatment currently in practice.
Of the three procedures, surgery is the least prescribed course of action for hyperthyroidism treatment. In fact, this procedure is not commonly prescribed as part of an overall hyperthyroidism treatment, and is often recommended only in situations wherein the thyroid gland has grown to such a size as to make swallowing and/or breathing difficult.
As to which hyperthyroid treatment you should undergo, your doctor is in the best position to give you a solid recommendation. Antithyroid medicine is generally prescribed for mild to moderate cases of hyperthyroidism, or if you have just begun to undergo thyroid disease treatment for Grave's disease. This is also the hyperthyroidism treatment method of choice for younger patients, with older patients or those already diagnosed with Graves' disease typically undergoing radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism.
It is important to seek thyroid disease treatment as soon as possible, even though the symptoms may not seem that severe. Keep in mind that thyroid conditions can quickly take a turn for the worse, and they can lead to more serious health problems if the condition is left untreated.
by: Gen Wright
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